2 minute read
Autonomous landing for motion
ALMOST PARALLEL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY, THE MOTION AND HEAVE COMPENSATED GANGWAY IN its many forms has really taken off, and now the industry is looking for further improvements of this safe crew transfer concept.
As a great step forward in the development of motion compensated gangways, Bosch Rexroth and Barge Master now offer an autonomous landing function for new build gangways and as retrofits on existing systems.
Optimising operational hours Autonomous landing systems use sophisticated technology to improve safety and efficiency for motion compensated gangways. As automation technology becomes more sophisticated and vessel owners around the world prioritise the optimisation of operational hours, Bosch Rexroth has developed a new autonomous landing solution which significantly improves both safety and performance. Radar, cameras, and sensors Landing systems are essential when it comes to transferring people and essential items between a vessel and an oil & gas platform or offshore wind turbine. Through advanced drive technology and digital sensors, these systems compensate for the vessel movement, making them safer to use in adverse conditions. However, manual control is still required when it comes to engaging the landing with the platform. Depending on the experiences of the operator as well as the weather conditions, this can become a challenging task. More safety comes with Bosch Rexroth’s new autonomous landing solution. Through a combination of sophisticated radar technology, cameras, and sensors, the system automatically attaches the landing to
Through a combination of sophisticated radar technology, cameras, and sensors, the system automatically attaches the landing to the required site without the need for manual input.
the required site without the need for manual input. This means that the operation is consistent and reliable, regardless of weather and ocean conditions. Once connected, the landing utilises the usual motion compensation which works alongside the vessel’s dynamic positioning system to ensure a safe, steady connection between ship and platform.
Positive impact “There are a number of benefits to the autonomous landing system,” says Rene Coppens, Director Business Development at Bosch Rexroth. “First of all, it’s a further improvement of safety. Perhaps most importantly though, our systems increase the available operational hours. Our system can work in difficult conditions and does not depend on availability of operators, so it can really improve the uptime. These three key benefits present a real step forward in autonomous landing solutions.” After years of research and development, and close cooperation between Bosch Rexroth, the Bosch research department, and launching customer Barge Master, the autonomous landing solution is now available to order for new build gangways and should be available for retrofit later this year on existing gangways. “Customers can already see the potential in this kind of automation,” adds Mr Coppens, ”and how it can have a really positive impact on their businesses.”
i. boschrexroth.com
Through advanced drive technology and digital sensors, these systems compensate for the vessel movement, making them safer to use in adverse conditions.
